“From Nova Scotia to the North East”: Celtic superstars join Fochabers festival line up
More names have been added to a show-stopping Speyfest 2026 line up, with female and international talent leading the charge, from Friday 24 – Sunday 26 July.
Ontario-based Celtic superstar Natalie MacMaster, celebrated Scottish songstress Kim Carnie, multi-award-winning Scots singer Ellie Beaton and Boston-based fiddle fusion group Scottish Fish are among the acts who almost complete the Main Stage line up for the weekend.
Highland heroes Elephant Sessions headline and the endlessly energetic Mec Lir will also be part of the festival, located in the north east village of Fochabers, which showcases the best in contemporary folk music.
Local talent in the form of Tour Bus Fortune, the Auld Fochabers Fiddlers, Milne’s High School Fiddlers and the Arc Fiddlers will also take their rightful place in the line up, joining already announced names The Tumbling Paddies, Karen Matheson Band, Astro Bloc and Dallahan.
The news comes as all ticket types including combined day tickets go on sale, with the weekend’s line up fittingly reflecting the Speyside area’s rich fiddle music heritage.
No less than six acts make their debut visit to Speyfest this year, as the festival continues to thrive and attract global and national talent to its stages.
Cape Breton superstar Natalie MacMaster’s first ever visit is set to be a particular draw for many as she’s joined by an incredible, internationally-acclaimed band.
Natalie MacMaster said: “We are coming to Speyfest! Getting back to the motherland is always deeply meaningful for me, especially now as I get older. What is going on there with the Scottish fiddling tradition is so darn cool, and I just can’t wait to showcase the Cape Breton style with my husband fiddler, Donnell Leahy, and with Tim Edey on guitar and Troy MacGillivray on piano.”
Speyfest Chair Ashleigh Macgregor said: “Speyfest 2026 is shaping up to be something very special indeed. Fochabers and Speyside have long been a heartland of fiddle and folk music, so to have global sensations who share this passion playing with us is incredibly affirming. It goes to show the strength of the traditional music legacy that has been built in this region of Scotland. It’s very exciting to be welcoming so many new faces to the Speyfest bill, while having such a strong representation of female and international talent is something that is very important to us. From Nova Scotia to the North East, we’re bringing tremendous Celtic talent together for an unforgettable weekend of music.”
Speyfest sees annual attendances of around 4,500 across its three days, with local playing fields transformed into a bustling tented village. The programme includes song and instrument workshops, crafts, a fun run, pub sessions, kids activities, yoga and more.
A final headliner along with a host of emerging talent are still to be announced this spring.
Speyfest 2026 takes place from Friday 24th – Sunday 26th July for its 29th edition. Tickets are on sale now, visit www.speyfest.com.